Diaper cleaner

ABSTRACT

AN OPEN BASED CONTAINER ENGAGES OVER A TOILET BOWL AND THE SOILED DIAPER IS PLACED THEREIN. THE LID IS CLOSED ENGAGING A FIXED ROLLER WITH THE DIAPER AND APPLYING SQUEEZING PRESSURE AGAINST A SPRING LOADED ROLLER. A HIGH PRESSURE WATER SPRAY IS DIRECTED AGAINST THE SOILED SIDE OF THE DIAPER WHICH, AFTER A SHORT RINSING TIME, IS PULLED SLOWLY OUT FROM BETWEEN THE ROLLERS WHICH WRING DRY THE DIAPER AS IT IS BEING PULLED THROUGH THE ROLLERS.

Oct. 12, 1971 MlLLER EFAL 3,611,758

DIAPER CLEANER Filed March 2, 1970 INVI'INIUR5 Q0652? G4! Muse. FIG 4 Canes/we: My: 6 0005.

' E73 film/0&2 Gu ta I w/i 4 am United States Patent 3,611,758 DIAPER CLEANER Robert Glen Miller, 1229 18th St. NW., Calgary 42,

Alberta, Canada; and Clarence Wayne Houde, 7 Perth Drive; and Ryan Alexander Campbell, 11c Catherine St., both of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada Filed Mar. 2, 1970, Ser. No. 15,343 Int. Cl. D06f 11/00, 41/00 US. Cl. 6822 A 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An open based container engages over a toilet bowl and the soiled diaper is placed therein. The lid is closed engaging a fixed roller with the diaper and applying squeezing pressure against a spring loaded roller. A high pressure water spray is directed against the soiled side of the diaper which, after a short rinsing time, is pulled slowly out from between the rollers which wring dry the diaper as it is being pulled through the rollers.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in diaper cleaner devices.

It is Well known that the handling of soiled diapers is unpleasant, unsanitary, time consuming and inconvenient.

The conventional method of cleaning a diaper is to place it in a container such as the toilet bowl for a length of time to soak away part of the soil. However, this is an inconvenient process and furthermore the subsequent wringing out of the diaper by hand is unsanitary.

The present device overcomes the disadvantages attendant with this soaking process by providing an open based container which can be placed over the toilet bowl whereupon the diaper can be placed therein, and pulled upwardly through spring loaded rollers at the same time having a high pressure spray nozzle directed upon the soil thus washing it downwardly into the toilet bowl where it can be flushed away in the normal manner. The diaper having being pulled through the rollers, is not only cleaned, but is also wrung out due to the spring loading action of the two rollers upon the diaper so that it is then relatively easy to proceed with the normal washing cycle, there being no drips from the diaper which have to be caught during the transfer of the diaper from one place to another.

The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to provide a sanitary diaper cleaning device which eliminates the disadvantages associated with the usual soaking process.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described consisting of a container for antiseptic or liquid detergent connected to the spray nozzle if desired.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the cooperation of the two rollers and the lid holds the lid closed against a predetermined amount of upward pressure being applied thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described 'which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of, and is hereby claimed to reside in, the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process, construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing,

3,611,758 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 of which concept, one or more specific embodiments of same are herein exemplified as illustrative only of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the device with the connection to the faucet being shown schematically,

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the roller assembly per se.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of one antiseptic container *which may be used with the device.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view of the roller construction mounting.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates a container made preferably from plastic and having opposite sides 11 and 12 and end walls 13 and 14, the sides converging inwardly towards an open base 15 at the lower end thereof.

Handles 16 are placed upon end walls 13 and 14 for handling purposes and snap connectors or spring clips 17 are secured to each end wall 13 and 14 to enable the device to be snapped over the upper edge of a toilet bowl (not illustrated) and to hold same firmly thereon.

Situated within the container is a short conduit 18 extending through one opposite wall 12 and having a substantially vertically situated spray tube 19 upon the inner end thereof. This tube is multi-apertured as at 20 and is situated below and slightly to one side of the roller assembly collectively designated 21 which will hereinafter be described. The conduit 18 and the spray tube 19 constitute What is defined as a spray nozzle assembly. A flexible hose 22 extends from the outer end of the conduit 18 to an antiseptic dispensing container 23 and thence to a faucet valve 24 which connects the device to a source of water pressure such as a convenient bathroom tap. Inasmuch as there are many methods of attaching one end of a conduit to a faucet such as for example, the attachment of portable dishwashers, details of this connection are not believed necessary for the understanding of this invention.

The antiseptic dispenser container 23 is optional and is shown in detail in FIG. 4.

It consists of a clear or translucent plastic body or container equipped with an educator and suction pipe assembly 26.

The flexible conduit 22 is connected to one side of the eductor and the other side of the eductor extends to the faucet. A detachable filling cap 27 is provided and liquid detergent or a solution type antiseptic is placed within the container so that it can be entrained in the water stream by the eductor assembly 26. A bracket 28 enables the plastic container 25 to be secured to a convenient location such as under the water closet lid.

The roller assembly collectively designated 21 includes a transversely situated first roller 29 journalled for rotation within brackets 30 secured to the underside 31 of a lid 32 hinged as at 33 along the upper edge of one of the opposite sides 11. This lid extends approximately half way across the upper 'side of the container 10, the remaining portion 33' being integral with the container 10..

A pair of sliders (one only of which is shown) 34 consist of blocks mounted for fore and aft movement within slide guides 35 secured to the end walls 13 and 1-4 of the container and a further roller 36 is journaled for rotation within these slides 34.

Coiled springs 37 react between the end wall 12 of the container and the sliders 34 of the roller 36 and force it towards the other end wall 11.

When the lid is closed downwardly, the first roller 29 engages the further roller 36 and as the lid is forced to the closed position shown in FIG. 1, the roller 36 is moved against spring pressure, towards wall 12 until the lid snaps shut and the rollers take up the position shown in FIG. 3.

In this position it will be observed that the rollers are in interfacial contact one with the other with the springs 37 urging roller 36 against roller 29. Furthermore, the transverse axis 36A of roller 36 is above the transverse axis 29A of the roller 29 so that the lid cannot be opened without a predetermined amount of upward pressure being applied thereto which forces roller 36 towards wall 12 thus enabling roller 29 to pass thereby. This obviates the necessity of holding the lid closed during the operation of the device although lid handle 39 is provided to open and close the lid.

In operation, the device is secured to the upper side of a toilet bowl and the flexible conduit 22 is secured to a faucet which is then opened permitting water to be sprayed at relatively high pressure through the small apertures 20 within the spray tube 19. The lid is opened and the soiled diaper 40 is placed in the container with the soiled side towards the nozzle spray tube 19. The upper edge 41 of the diaper remains outside of the container, the lid of which is then forced closed thus causing rollers 29 and 36 to effect a squeezing or wringing out action to the diaper 40. The diaper is pulled upwardly slowly through the rollers 36 and 29 as shown in phantom in FIG. 3 so that the diaper is wrung out as it is pulled from the device, the spray nozzle assembly having washed oil the soil which passes downwardly through the open base 15 of the con tainer to the toilet bowl whereupon it may be disposed of in the usual way.

It is usually necessary to leave the spray nozzle operating upon the diaper for about 30 seconds and, of course, to leave the spray nozzle on after the diaper has been removed in order to permit complete rinsing of the container.

When not in use, the cleaner can likely remain on the floor in a vacant space beneath the water closet or, alternatively, can be stored upon a tray in a convenient storage location.

FIG. 5 shows one method of construction of the rollers 29 and 36. These rollers are preferably hollow plastic and have cylindrical inserts 38 pressed into each end. Spindles 42 are then pressed within dri-llings or bores in the ends of the inserts concentric with the rollers 29 and 36.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A diaper cleaner comprising in combination a container, a spray nozzle assembly in said container, means connecting said spray nozzle assembly to a source of water pressure, a hinged lid to said container, a first roller mounted transversely on the under surface of said lid, a further roller mounted transversely in said contained adjacent said lid whereby said rollers cooperate together for wringing action when said lid is closed, and means mounting said rollers whereby said lid is held closed up to a 4 predetermined opening pressure being applied to said lid.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said spray nozzle assembly includes a vertically situated multi-apertured tube below and to one side of said rollers.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which one of said rollers is spring loaded and biassed towards the other of said rollers.

4. The device according to claim 2 which includes means to mount said further roller for movement towards and away from said first roller, said means including a pair of slides on opposite walls of said container, said further roller being journalled for rotation between said slides and a spring extending between a wall of said container and said further roller normally biassing said further roller towards said first roller, said means mounting said rollers whereby said lid is held closed comprises the axis of said further roller being above the axis of said first roller when said lids is closed, said rollers being in interfacial contact due to said spring, the point of interfacial contact of said rollers being such that the transverse axis of said further roller is situated above the transverse axis of said first roller.

5. The device according to claim 4 in which said container is open based.

6. The device according to claim 1 in which one of said rollers is spring loaded and biassed towards the other of said rollers.

7. The device according to claim 6 in which said container is open based.

8. The device according to claim 1 which includes means to mount said further roller for movement towards and away from said first roller, said means including a pair of slides on opposite walls of said container, said further roller being journalled for rotation between said slides and a spring extending between a wall of said container and said further roller normally biassing said further roller towards said first roller, said means mounting said rollers whereby said lid is held closed comprises the axis of said further roller being above the axis of said first roller when said lid is closed, said rollers being in interfacial contact due to said spring, the point of interfacial contact of said rollers being such that the transverse axis of said further roller is situated above the transverse axis of said first roller.

9. The device according to claim 8 in which said container is open based.

10. The device according to claim 1 in which said container is open based.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,122,011 2/1964 Martin 68-205 D 3,142,068 7/1964 Leventhal 68235 D 3,377,827 4/1968 Drury 68257 X WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner P. R. COE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 68205 D 

